Our guide to Botswana

BOTSWANA has perfected the art of the safari and is one of the best destinations in Africa for animal lovers. It is a wild safari destination with stunning and contrasting scenery, from desert to delta, and a rich diversity of wildlife.

We’ve asked our Africa expert Jo, to share her expert knowledge about this fascinating country as well as her insider tips. Read on to find out more.

Discover Botswana

WHY WE LOVE IT

Botswana’s government has a fierce commitment to conservation with wildlife conservancies allowing a lower volume of visitor numbers to help preserve the land and its wildlife. Although this can mean that safari prices come at a premium the benefit is that you can go days on safari without seeing another soul. In addition, the wildlife concessions and the National parks make up over 40% of Botswana’s land allocation and have minimal fencing allowing game to move freely over huge stretches of land.

WHAT IS IT BEST FOR?

What is it not best for!? Mokoro safaris (a type of canoe commonly used in the Okavango Delta and on the Chobe River in Botswana), boating safaris, great predator sightings, it’s a paradise for birdwatching, viewing huge herds of elephants, experiencing true wilderness with lower crowds, and partaking in desert adventures.

WHEN IS BEST TO GO?

In short, it’s fabulous year-round. The rain that has fallen in Angola during the wet season (November to March) flows down through into the Okavango River making July and August a fantastic time to see the Delta in full flood. Although it is rainy season or “Green Season” November-March, this Southern African country is quite an arid country, so if you do get rain it tends to be a short sharp downpour that helps clear the air, and, isn’t too disruptive to game viewing. The good thing about traveling in their Green Season is that prices are significantly lower.

THINGS TO DO, SEE AND EXPERIENCE

JO RECOMMENDS:

Combine two different safari areas starting with a true Delta ‘wet’ camp with a camp or lodge up in the Linyanti. These two destinations work well together as exploring the Delta is as much about the animals that you see on your safari as it is about learning more about these incredible waterways. You can then go on to enjoy some incredible game viewing in the northern reaches of the country. If you have time and the budget why not add on a relaxing start or finish on either the Zambian or Zimbabwean side of the Victoria Falls or explore the Makgadikgadi Salt pans or the Central Kalahari.

MEET JO

Jo has over 20 years of experience working across Africa and Sri Lanka, and creating bespoke itineraries. Jo will share everything you need to know and put together an itinerary based on your requirements, while organising everything, including flights and internal transfers.

Contact Jo